The Executive Director of the Siouxland Chapter of the Red Cross says the problems caused by Hurricane Harvey have led to what she describes as the biggest nationwide call for volunteers in 15 years. Tammy Lee says they will send at least two volunteers to Texas and have been calling everyone on … [Read more...]
Iowa Red Cross volunteers head to Canada to help with wildfires
Four Iowans are among the Red Cross volunteers responding to the devastating wildfires sweeping across British Columbia. Richard and Carolyn Newkirk, from Ankeny, are traveling to the Canadian province today. Carolyn says she and her husband are excited to be able to help. "It's a little bit … [Read more...]
Northeast Iowa cities cleaning up flood damage
Clean up is underway in some areas of northeast Iowa as others continue to keep an eye on rising floodwaters. Iowa Red Cross spokesman, Mark Tauscheck, says the city of Sumner was hit the hardest by floodwater as the power was knocked out. "The backup for their power supply was also affected. So, … [Read more...]
Additional Iowa Red Cross volunteers to help with hurricane recovery
More Red Cross volunteers and vehicles from Iowa are bound for the southeast coast of the U.S. Kara Kelly, a spokesperson for the Red Cross in Iowa, says the volunteers will be providing aid to victims of Hurricane Matthew. "We have 14 more Iowa Red Cross disaster workers who are heading to … [Read more...]
Iowa Red Cross ready to help with Hurricane Matthew recovery
The American Red Cross is preparing to respond as Hurricane Matthew slams into the southeast coast of the country. Iowa Region Red Cross spokesperson, Kara Kelly, says national officials are checking with the states that are not in the path of the storm to line up help. "There is a major call … [Read more...]
Red Cross moves from disaster to recovery mode in Cedar Rapids
The Iowa chapter of the American Red Cross is closing the last of its emergency shelters in Cedar Rapids today. A spokeswoman for the relief agency says that doesn’t mean its work is done in helping flood victims. Regional communications officer Kara Kelly says the tasks ahead mostly involve … [Read more...]
More Iowa Red Cross volunteers answer call for flood recovery help in Louisiana
More Red Cross volunteers from Iowa are heading to Louisiana to help with the flood recovery. Iowa Region spokesperson Kara Kelly says 8 volunteers will join 11 Iowans who are already working there. "Most of them are working in emergency shelters, there are still thousands of people who cannot go … [Read more...]
Iowans among Red Cross volunteers heading to help Louisiana
Around a dozen Iowans are among the more than 500 Red Cross volunteers from around the country who are making their way to Louisiana where thousands of people have been forced out of their homes by flooding. It's likely to be the worst natural disaster in the U.S. since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. … [Read more...]
Red Cross looking for new Disaster Action Team volunteers
The American Red Cross Disaster Action Team is looking for more volunteers. Team members are on call 24 hours a day, and wake up sometimes in the middle of the night to assist people displaced by fires and other disasters. Peter Teahen with the Red Cross Grant Wood area chapter in Cedar Rapids, … [Read more...]
Communities receive free smoke detectors from Red Cross and Fire Marshal
The Iowa Red Cross is working with the State Fire Marshal’s office and community firefighters to install free home smoke alarms in several communities during the next several weeks. They started with volunteers going door-to-door in the central Iowa town of Madrid Saturday, and Red Cross … [Read more...]